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COVID19 sewage sampling <br />Report provided: April 7, 2020 <br />About the data <br />Our methods for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in sewage are available at <br />www.biobot.io/covid19. Our approach relies on detecting genetic fragments <br />of the virus that are excreted in stool, which does not determine if the virus <br />is dead or active. <br />Biobot’s COVID19 case estimate <br />We measure the SARS-CoV-2 virus in sewage by detecting its genetic <br />signature. We convert our measurements into a COVID19 case estimate by <br />using the flow rate and population data provided by the treatment facilities, <br />as well as published rates of SARS-CoV-2 shedding in stool. <br />Our case estimates and confirmed clinical cases <br />Our COVID19 case estimates may not match the confirmed case numbers <br />in the community for a variety of reasons. Clinical testing is limited and <br />may not represent the entire infected population. Some COVID19 patients <br />are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms and therefore do not seek out <br />testing, but these patients may still be infectious. Our methods will continue <br />to improve and get more accurate as we analyze more samples. In particular <br />we are building a model to take into account person-to-person variability in <br />SARS-CoV-2 shedding in stool. Learn more on our website, which includes <br />links to our protocols and publications. <br />Data use <br />The Biobot COVID19 case estimates provide an alternative metric to guide <br />responses to the outbreak. We recommend that you share this information <br />with local public health officials, and see if there’s a way to work together to <br />respond to COVID19 in your community. <br />About Biobot’s COVID19 sewage sampling campaign <br />In collaboration with researchers at MIT, Harvard, and Brigham and Women’s <br />Hospital, Biobot Analytics launched this pro bono campaign to analyze <br />sewage from wastewater treatment facilities across the United States to <br />estimate the prevalence of COVID19 infection. <br />Since launching on March 23, 2020, the campaign has reached capacity at <br />over 100 treatment facilities in almost 25 states. We are currently working to <br />increase our capacity. <br />For questions, email exec@biobot.io <br />26